Artificial hand.



A. P. NELSON.

ARTIFICIAL vmoulon FILED SEPT. 1, laos.

Patented Jan.5,1909.4

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lll wi? Y 4.4 Q

NNN@ n# ATTORNEYS R. ',h. kk.

A. I'. NELSON.

ARTIFICIAL HAND.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1308. l 908,881. Patented Jan.5,19o9. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS 0 ings, l provide a frame. for mounting the eosgsei preferablyr by the movement of one part of the arm relative to the other, a suitable frame being provided for mounting the de vice upon tie arm.

Referring more particularly to the drawhand upon the arm of the user, and consisting of an upper section or sleeve 1() preferably fashioned lroin leather and having straps and vbuckles 11 by means of which it can be secured in place, and a forearm sleeve or section 12 having eyelets 13 softhat it can be secured osition by means of a lacing 14 or in any-.ot ier convenient manner. An elongate-u plate member 15 is arranged longitudinallyof the `u per arm sleeve 1t) and is secured thereto in any suitable way, for example, by means of rivets 16. 'lhe member 15 projects beyond the lower end of the4 sleeve 10 and has pivoted thereon a hinge leaf 17 movably mounted in place byv means of a pivot pin or rivet 18. 'l he forearm sleeve 12 as arranged longitudinally thereof, a fixed plate 19, rigi..ly secured in place by means of rivets 20 or any other suitable means. A

hinge leaf 21 is secured at the rear end of the fixed plate 19, by means of a rivet 22. A hinge pin or bolt .5-3 connects the hinge leaves 17 and 21 so that in etliect, the connection between the frame sections or sleeves 19 and 12 is a universally jointed one, permitting the 0 fashioned, a stil'ening bar 24 pivotally se-.

frame sections to be moved in a plurality of directions relative to one another.

At the side of the upper arm sleeve remote from the plate 15, is riveted or otherwise cured by means of a rivet 25 to a similar bar 26' riveted or otherwise secured to the fore- 'arm section 12 at the side remote from the plate 19. The bar 26 extends part way 'of the-'length of the forearm section and is secured by means ofa hinge 27', to a similar bar 28 extending the remainder of-the length of Y 'the forearm section', and likewise riveted or other ise secured thereto 'l he provision of tina hinge .27 and the pivotal connection between the bar '.6 and the bar 24, perinit the frei-ne sections 'to be moved in a plurality of directions relative t6 one another, .that is, to be moved relatively without interfering 5,5 with the .iniversal joint connections therebego thereto by ni'eans of 'colis or rivets.

tween The forward end sfof the )late 19 and the Stifi'eningiar '.25 ire inwardly,disposed and carry therebetween a wrist plate 29, seerred l ar wrist. late 3.9 is swivelelispon the wrist late 29 :y means of a holt ir rivet 31 and orins a part of a substantially Ll-shaped member 252 forming the hack of the hand.

$5 Preferably, the member 32 is covered at tbe i i l i l l upper portion and at the sides, by means of a.

leather covering 33 or thelike.

i Arranged transversely of the member 32,

between the sides thereof, at tbe forward end,

is e. pintle 34 forming a fuiger pivot upon 79 of similar spaced sides 37 connected by crosspieces 38 integral therewith. Rivets 39 arconnect the same. The third joint of each moi.nted tponthe pintle 341 The first or otter joints have the lower edges roi nded at the extremities, and if so desired 'may be provided with cork tips, or may be otherwise siitahly fashioned to imitate nattral fingers. intermediate .the ends, each 'oint has a cross lar 40. The cross bars of the second and third joints carry eyes 41. 'l lexi- Lle members 12 consisting preferably of linl s forming chains, are sec'i redv at 'the cross hars of the first joints and are movably arranged in the eyes di of the remaining joints, for a prrpose which will appear liere inafter. Each of the lingers has an elongated resilient stri 48 forming a spring which tends norma y to straighten the fingers, and which is arranged between the cross-pieces 38 and the pivot pins 39 and the cross I' ars 40.

A slide tar 44 is movably arranged upon the fixed plate 19 which is provided with g1 ide sti ds 45 and 46, referally i nder-cutto engave at the edges o the slide lrar to constrain trhe same to move in predetermined directions. At the lower edge, near the rear end, the slide har has teeth 47 forming a ratchet adapted to be engaged hy a dogflS j pivoted upon the fixed late by means of a rivet 49. A spring 59 he d in place ly means of sti ds 51 engages the dog to force the saine normally toward the sfide bar and into engagement with the ratchet 47. A lever 52 is l pivoted ly means of a pin 53 v pon the fixed plate and has a slot 54 engaging a sti d 55 carried liy the dog. A releasing rod 56 has slots 57 which receive pins 5S carried l y the j fixed plate s0 that the releasing rod is slidal ly nio. nted upon the same. it is pivoti ally connected l y means of a rivet 59 or the i li? e, with the lever 52. The free end of the releasing rod projects rearwardly i'eyond the i forearm sleeve or frame section, and is lient for engagement l y notches GO formed at the lower end of the plate member l5, for a pi'rj ppse which will appear more clearly hereini a ter.

The rpper part of the fixed plate 19 is extended and bas an elongated slot 61. An acti ating sfide 62 has a sti d 63 arranged' to move along the slot within the same, being actual hand. Each of the join'ts 86 consists 75 ranged at the ends of the joints pivotally finger, which is the largest one, is pivotally 50 to hold the actuating slide movably in place.

provided with ahead at the back of the slot,

The latter has an outwardly extending flange'64 provided with spaced openings (55 therethrot gh. A catch 66 is movabiy mounted upon the slide bar 44 between the latter and an otlset plate 67, by means of a rivet )in GS. The catch has a nose G9 formed to extend into one of the. openings operatively to connect the actuating slide and the slide bar. AA spring 70 meent.- ed at the lower edge of the slide oar and connected with the catch by means of a linl; 71, tends normally to hold the latter ont of cngagement with the actrating slide. The slide has a swieled eye 72 in which is arranged the end of a link 73. The link has the extremity threaded and is held in place` by means of a nl t- 74. 'lhe opposite end of the link 73 is pivoted by means of a rivet. pin 75 upon the plate n iemlcr 15 at a point. in termcdiate the ends thereof and preferably somewhat nearer the lower end than the upper end. A. gtard 76 for the springr T0 is mol nted lay means of s. itable rivets 77, upon the fixed plate l!)i below the slide bar, and is spaced from the fixed plate so that, the Spring 7G can move Letwecn the guard and the fixed plate. 'lhe arrangement is sect1 that when the slide. har is advanced to a position adjacent to the wrist end of the frame 12, the rivet 77 at the end of the guide near the hand engages the spring 7U and holds the same. in a position szch that the nose titl of the catch titl projects above the upper edge of the slide lar so that it can be engaged liy the acti ating slide, as will appear' morev clearliv hereinafter.

lltotatabljf mounted at one side of the U- shaped member f orming the back of the hand, is a pin 75 constituting a pivot for the thumb 70. The latter comprises spaced sides 80 connected by cross bars S1. One only, of the .sides St) is mounted upon the thumb pivot 78, which has a head 82 serving to hold the thumb in place. A cross brace 253 having one end 84 laterally disposed and secured at a side of the U-shapcd plate 32, is al ranged transversely of the hand at the under side thereof, and has a downrrardl)r disposed ear 85 which carries the inner end of the thumb pivot 78. An extension SG of the cross brace is secured to the side of the U-shaped plate 32 opposite to that at which the end S4 of the brace is positioned. A cross plate S7 joins the opposite sides of the plate 32 at the upper edges, adiacent to the. fingers. A bracket comprising' sides 88 and Sti is pivotally mounted upon the tlnnnb pivot 7S. 'lhe' side S9 is 'outwardly offset and with the side the ends of the. flexible members or chains t2 are secured. 'lhe sides of the bracket. are connected and rigidly held relative to one an- A other, by rivet pins .)1 and 91 The side S8 l has a reinforced portion 92 of greater thickness, at the end adjacent to the thumb pivot, and carries a stud 93 adapted to engage in recess .14 ofthe. thumb. The pin Jl 9 1 is arranged to sent in a recess J5 similar to the recess 04, and located in the opposite side. 80 of the thumb.

A tension bar is-located within the hand and has removable nuts 97 at the ends. A helical spring JS is loosel mounted upon the bar 9G and has one extrenntg formed into an eye 99 formed to receive an eie. 11H) provided at the end o'f a connecting member 101. 'lhe free end of the -iatter is secured b t'meaus of'a pivoted post 102 at the forward end of the slide bar 44. A disk 1(13 is arranged upon the tension rod adjacent to the head .17 'rcmete from the linger. sitioned between two adjacent coils of the spring JS near the forward end of the same, and has laterally extending wings 105. 'lie members 1013 are arranged in openings of the wings 105 and are held therein by means of nuts 107. At, the ends remote. from the vxrings 105, the. tie members are formed into eyes 10S which serve to secure them to the yoke 90.

The connecting member 101. has an extension 109 at which is attached the end 111 of' a helical spring 110. The. other end of the spring is Secured upon the thumb pivot 78.

Owing to the universal joint connection between the upper arm section and the fore arm section, the latter can be swung or pivoted relatit'el)r to the former without causing the engagement of the releasing rod by the end of the plate member 15. A lateral or twisting movement, of the forearm however', throws the parts into relative positions such that the releasing rod is engaged by one of the notches 60 when the arm is straightened out. 1f it is desired to close the lingers of the hand, the forearm is swung toward the upper arm, the slide. bar being in its forward position, until the actuating slide comes into en' gagement with the catch, that is, until the nose (it) enters one of the openings G5 of the actuating slide. 'lhe arm is then straightened out, the parts being held in such positions that the releasing rod is not engaged by the plate. member 15. 'lhis movementof the arm draus the actuating slide longitudinally of the slot (38 and the slide bar is constrained to move with the actuating slide, the dog tttA A retainer UH is pol the closing or cienching of the hand. Then the arm has been straightened sufliciently to close the hand, a reverse movement can be effected without releasing the hand, the do;r 4S serving by its engagement with the ratchet to hohl the slide bar in position. 'At the same time, the actuatingr slide can move toward the wrist of the device without carrying the slide bar with it, as the catch falls out of the openings 6:3 under the influence of the spring 70. When the hand is clenched in this fashion it can securely l,rip an impleinent or the like. The springT il() is under tension when the hand is clenched and tends to draw the slide bar toward the wrist of the device.

When it. is desired to release the hand, the

forearm is twisted so that the end ol' the plate inemlter 15 is hrought into line with the releasing rod and the arin is then straightened out. This causes the engagement at the end of the releasing rod, of one ot' the notches 60,

whereby the releasing rod is moved forward l he secured in place at the lacing 14, or in any l other convenient manner.

I am aware that previously to my invention, artificial hands have heen constructed, i having jointed fingers operated bv mechanism co-acting with the arm and lf therefore do not claim such construction broadly, as my invention. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In an artificial hand, a universally joint ed frame adapted to he mounted upon the arm and carrying a hand having jointed fingers, and actuating mechanism controlled by said frame. and adapted to contract said fin- 'j Gers hy a predetermined movement of said rame, and to relax said fingers by a further l predetermined movement of said frame.

l 2. In an artificial hand, an upper arm l l sleeve and a lower arm sleeve, a. universal joint therebetween, a hand carried by said ower arm sleeve, jointed springmctuated and through the lever 5i. swings the dog 48 j fingeis carried by saidhand, and meansco'actout of engagement with the ratchet 47 j inghetween said sleeves and said hand, for against the tension of the sprungr 50. The contracting: said fingers and controlling the vthe saine.

slide bar then moves toward the wrist'of the device, under the pull of the spring 110, the fingers being, allowed therehy to straighten out, while the 'bracket 89 swings backward al'out the tliuinh pivot, a rivet. pin 91 engaging: the recess h5 to return the thumb to its niirinal, open position. When the hand has l'ccn opened, the torcarin can ite twisted so that the. releasii.;r rod remains inoperative and the hand can then le closed iii the-manner descrilfed `ilovc. By providing a number of opening v in the actuating slide, the catch can engage al. dill'erent points of the actuatiiipy slide so that in closing the hand, the arm cau le straightened to a greater or less degree. Similarly, the provision of a plurality ol' noti-hes (Si) pci-mits a variety in the movements ol the ariii to release the hand. 'l'he fiiigci.-:traighteniiig springs 43 cause the lingers to extend or unclench when the device is released.

'l'he tightness of the grip ol the lingers-as all'oi'ded lzy the strength of the user, and the material used iii the construction ol' the hand, will irc iii proportion to the stillness of the finger springs and the extent to which they are distorted, or that is lo say, the grip will he proportional to the extent to which the slide har has been moved toward the ell ow.l

It will he understood that the frame nuist. he suital'ly secured upon the ariii, the upper? arm sleeve and the. lower arni sleeve fitting` respectively upon the upper ai'ni and the stump of the lower arm ol the user.

vl preler to providel the foi-carni section with a guard flap 115 adapted to cover the mech-.r

anisni carried l y ilic louer scci ion, io protect.

with uprights 116 by' means o which it can 'llie guard flap iiia lc provided tions rela tive to the other of said sections is effected.

4. an artificial hand provided with g jointed fingers and means for securing the. i hand to a forearm stump, the combination i with said fingers and said means, of m,chanism adapted to co crate with the upper arm j and the. stump, anc connected to said fingers whereby said fingers are contracted when the i arm is straightened, and whereby said fingers are released when the arm is first twisted and l then straightened. i 5. In an artificial hand, .jointed fingers, :ictuating mechanism for contractinr said fingers, meins adapted to he controlled by an upper ariu and a forearni, for operating i said actuatiiu,r mechanism, and means oontrolled hy the upper ariii and the forearm, for releasingr said fingers, said first-mentioned means being operated when the arm is straightened, said lastiiieiitioncd means being operated when the arm is straightened after a twisting movement of the forearm relative. to the, upper arm has been elleeted.

(i. ln an :zi'iilicial haiiiha fraiiie comprisine; jointed sections. iiicaiis for removably `attaching said sections respectively to un i upper :ii-iii and the stuinp ol a forearm, a

wasn.

Yhand frame carried by said section adapted to be mounted upon the forearm, jointed lingers cai'ried by said hand freine, mea-ns tending normally"- to relax said lineem, means for contracting said fingers, and actuating mechanism carried by said sections and controlling said means for contract-ing said lingers, said actuating mechanism being operated to contract said lingers when said section adapted to be mounted upon the forearm is swung in one direction relative to said other section, means for releasingr said actuating mechanism, and means lor returning said actuating mechanism to a normal position.

7. In an artificiel hand, a frame comprising an up )er and a lower section adapted to be secure respectively to an upper arm and a forearm, a universal joint connecting said sections, a hand secured to said lower section and having jointed lingers and a movable thumb, means for holding said lingers and said thumb in normal open positions, mechanism for closing said lingers and said thumb, means for operating saidA mechanism by a swinging'movement of said lower section relative to said upper section, means for holding said mechanism whereby said hand is maintained closed and means for releasing said mechanism by a further swinging movement of said lower section relative to said upper section.'

8. In an artificial hand, a frame comprising an upper and a lower section adapted to he secured respective] to an upper arm and a forearm, a universe joint connecting said sections, a hand secured to said lower see.- t-ion and having jointed lingers and a. nit vable thumb, mans for holding said lingers and said thumb in normal open positions, mechanism for closing seid lingers and said thumb, means for operating said mechanism by a swinging nio vement of said lower section relative to said upper section, means l'or holding said mechanism whereby said hand is maintained closed, means controlled by a twisting movement of said lower section for releasing said holding means, and means tending to return said mechanism to a normal position such that said hand is opened.

9, ln an aitilicial hand, a frame comprising an upper ard a lower section having a universal joint connect-ion, a hand secured to said lower section and having jointed lingers, mechanism for closing said lingers, means oper-ablehy a. movement to straighten scid frame, for actuating said mechanism when said upper section and said lower section are' in certain relative positions, mea-ns lor holding said mechanism in position such that said lingers are closed, and moi-:ns operable by a meren-.ent to st raighten said frame, for releasing said. holding means when said sections are in further relative positions.

10. In an artilicial hand, a frame com rising an upper section and a lower section raving a universal joint connection, a hand secured to said lower section and having jointed lingers, contractile members for releasing said lingers, a sldable member' carried by said lower section and controlling said contractile members, a fmther slidable member independent ol" said 'iii-st slidable member and controlled by said upper section, means for operatively connecting said slidable members', means for holding said lirst slidahleI member in plurality of positions, and means controled by said upper section for releasing said lichting means.

11. In an artilicial hand, a frame com rising an upper section and a lower section aving a. universal joint connection, a hand secured to said lower section and having jointed lingers, contractile members for releasing said lingers, a. slide bar mounted upon' said lower section, an actuating' slide carricxl by said lower section, means for operatively connecting said slide bar and said actuating slide, said lastmentionod means being normally inoperative, means for rendering said last mentioned means operative, meansfor holding said slide bar in a plurality of posi tions, means controlled by said upper section, l'or releasing said holdingr means, and means for operativelyl connecting said actuating slide and said upper section.

12. ln an artificial hand, a frame com rising an upper section and a lower secton aving a universal joint connection, hand se cured to said lower section and having jointed lingers, contractile members for releasingT said lingers, a slide bar mounted unen sai lower section and having a movable catch, an actuating slide movably mounted upon said lower section and ada ited to be ooeratively engaged by said catch, means for holding said catch normally out of ."ngageinent with said slide, a guide controlling said catch whereby tho same engages said slide in a predetermined position of said slide bar, n dog adapted to engage said slide har to hold the same in a plurality of positions, means normally forcing said dog toward said slide bar, a link operatively connecting said slide and said upper section, and a releasing rod controlling said dog and adapted to bc operated by said u pper section when said lower section is twister into a predetermined position relative to said upper section.

13. In an artificial hand, a frame comprising an upper section and a lower sectiox. raving a universal joint connection, a hand seeiircd to said lower section and having jointed linfers, contractile members for releasing said lingers, a slide bar mounted u on said lower section and having a movab c catch, an actuating slide movahlyfmounted upon said lower section and ada ted to he o ora. tively engaged by said cate means for oldnio E? y aosser ing said catch normally out. of engagement l with said slide, a glide controlling said catch i whereby the same engages said side in a pr deternnned position of said slide bar, a dof2 adapted to engage said slide bar to hold the same in a plurality of positions, means norz mally forcing said dog toward said slide bar, a link operatively connecting said slide and g said t pper section, a plate member mounted ipon said i pper section and extending bel yond the lower end of the same. a link ivoted rpon said actuating slide and said p ate member, and a releasing rod movsbly moi'nt ed r on said lower section and controlling said t 0g, said plate member at the projecting end having a plurality of notches, said releasing rod having a part engaged by any one of said notches wh en said lower section has been twisted into a predetermined positionrelative to said upper section, whereby seid releasing rod een e actuated by a movement to straighten said sections.

14 In an artificial hand, a frame comprising an upper and a lower section, a hand mounted Upon said lower section and having a finger pivot, a plurality of jointed iin ers mounted upon said pivot, springs ten ing normally to straighten said fmgers, contractile members controlling said fingers and adapted to close the same, a thmb pivot, a thumb movably mounted upon said thumb pivot, a bracket mounted upon said thumb pivot and constituting a crank adapted to swing said thi mb in op osite directions, resilient means for controliing said cclntrziotile members and said bracket, and mechanism controlled by said sections, for operating said controlling,y mea s.

l5. In an artificial hand, a frame comprising an upper section and a lower section, a

i hand carried by said lower section and having a finger pivot., a. plurality of jointed iin-1 gers mounted rpon said finger pivot, sprim's tending to straighten said fingers, contra ct e members controlling Asaid iingers, a thumb pivot, a thi. mb movably mounted upon said pivot, a bracket mounted upon said thumb pivot and adapted to swing said thumb 1.n opposite directions, resilient means having an extensible part and controlling said oontraetile members and said brac-ket,-a spriiigconnecting said tinmbpivot and said conneet-ing means, and mechanism controlled by means to close sain hand and for releasing said connecting means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED r.' NELSON.

Witnesses:

D. B. WILLIAMS, WiLLrAM R. Gmrrrrn.

said sections for o eratin said connectinv. 

